This article addresses the history of blunt injury to the aorta by reviewing the epidemiology, military accounts, ancient history, and recent history during the last five decades of the twentieth century. Although they are a bit arbitrary and overlap somewhat, significant groupings regarding blunt injury to the thoracic aorta have occurred in ten-year blocks. It is important that any surgeon not be locked into a previous time period but be continually knowledgeable of ever-changing approaches. These approaches should always be based on the best evidence-based information available.